"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: Leviticus 19:33-34

 April 21

“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." - Leviticus 19:33-34 (NIV)

We all struggle when encountering people who are different than ourselves. It may make us uncomfortable or even fearful. God knows human nature and is well aware of human frailties. This is why our Lord included this and many other scriptures in the Bible dealing with this issue. The roots of prejudice lie in fear- including the fear we may be harmed by those different from ourselves. Consequently, we all need to be very careful in such circumstances to see if our fears are accurate and well-founded or based on mistaken information.

Before we react from instinct to those different from us, we need to pause and remember God created all humans equal. Jesus calls us to "love one another" and teaches we are all brothers and sisters in God's Kingdom. After all even Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were refugees and foreigners in Egypt. What would have happened to Christianity if the Egyptians had reacted to this holy family in fear and sent them back to Israel to be killed by King Herod? It is important as Christians to ask ourselves, "How do you feel when you encounter foreigners, especially those who don't speak your language?" Are you impatient? Do you think or act as if they should go back where they came from? Are you tempted to treat them unfairly in any way? God says to treat foreigners as you would treat fellow countrymen and love them as you love yourself. In reality, we are all foreigners in this world because it is only our temporary home. If we truly want to act as God told us to, we all need to pause a minute and try to view strangers, newcomers, and foreigners as opportunities to demonstrate God's love.

Prayer: Lord, Enable me to act compassionately to those different from me including foreigners and those of other races or religions. May I share Christ's love. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: Fear alienates. Love eliminates fear.

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)